Combination carrying case and stand for portable machines



Nov. 20, 1951 l-l. A. TRUMFIO 2,575,537

COMBINATION CARRYING' CASE AND STAND FOR PORTABLE MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 v Filed Oct. 27, 1949 INVENTOR.

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COMBINATION CARRYING CASE AND STAND FOR PORTABLE MACHINES Filed Oct. 27, 1949 H. A. TRUMFIO 2 sHEETs-sI-iEET 2 Juf,

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Patented Nov. zo, 1951 .combinar-ion (mit,anne casi: omni e FQiPQliTeBLEMACEENE Harry AJIrummGhicagoJfll. i elongation Quelle! 27, 1949,. Serial. Bali?! f 8 Claims.

out assistance and without the use of tools; to

provide an improvedcase of this kind which when closed has' vthe compact form of a suitcase and when openV may be used either as an'occasional' table Oras 'a ,Stand for Supporting the maehinehoused therein; to providein a device of this kind an improved' Afori-n of` caseV which is adapted to completely conceal the machine housed therein' when the Structure 1S Sed ias Mi confesional taole and which may be readily Opened t0 permit eccessi@ the m0111116 when such access yis desired; to providean improved convertible case which will afford a maximum amount of work surface when it is opened i'or use as a stand; to provide in a device of this kind an improved form of collapsible supportingjlegs which are sturdy in construction and which are adapted to be housed within the case when-not in use; and to provide an improved combination carrying case and stand which is neat, sturdy and comparatively inexpensive for use particularly with portable sewing machines, typewriters and motion picture projectors. v illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved `ca rrying case in closed position; Y t

Fig. 2 is a similar View but showing the top wall of the case in open position and part of the front wall broken away to show the interior .0f the case;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the case in `fnlly open position with the legs attached Fig. 4 is a Afragmentary view simi-lar to Fig. 3 'but also showing the sewing machine elevated `to operative position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section showin g the device asit appears when used 'as an occasional table; the view being taken generally on the lineB-B lof Fig. 3 but with the sewing machine removed and with the top and front (Cl. S12-30) 11"'With` Portable Sewing meonfpicture projectors, bu s`iness'"'rnachines butv the the' dltalfmgs is apar'. se withV an'i'electri'c sewg n dieL nsunji base plaie 2, electr'idotor" 3,'"contro1 "box'llj and "knee 9p.; ernten switch.nim sli" 1 "Inv the' form the improved convertible 1o eloneatedfrtaneillar '503W which liybe Qade "of Wood l'or 'of any other-:suite ablehaterialwhlch" possessesv the "necessary strength while still being offlight weight'.` -v"The improvedboxincludes'argid lframe 1 comprising 'nrcan wan 8; two-fend wa1is-9, |'u,fa top"wallll, 'and a narrow apionc-Ig'extending across the iront'of the' frame-The t0n' Wall fl ekirnprises a fixed: shelfv section l Sandfa hinged section it cenirany recessed, as show-n au15', te receive the 'inachinfe whicn isiliingedly secured to 'Kheshelsection"b hingeslf. The section His lS filil'l U19 @D .lz'lbyhges'li'nd'ts rifierzedg'e is provided with a'ledg t8" for sur* porting theiorward'end ofthe' rbase plate 2 when the machineis inoperative posit K `'"`The" boxI is of'sufoie'ntsize .Y permit the mareliii' Vwie@ completely njniisei therein when itis lowered to'ino'peratii(e` '0115* The' Vlower efdgeof th Yapron i2 and the for'- wnrii edges of meen aun-'9, `Laien-ne nnopenf ing I S'to accommodatthe knees "of the 'person fusing tne'finaenine, and the contini lboiiavis mounted o ,y the er'i'aceio'f the 'end wall-*l0 so as to positinthe n Y ch arm 5 close to tl'iright handside of this opening'.l lThe control box-#Lis electrically connected with a terminal 1106x220 mounted kon therear wall Sfand adaptedtd be connected' ltriefeiec'tric motor any a coriducl tor wire ZLYeitendng through a'slot122fin'llthe shelfl- '55* l@On o f the side walls of the -box forms a -lid 23 which is' adaptedto verlie and-conc'ealthelsec tions t3, ilil whenth'dviceis used as anoccaf sional iabi'eyns; shown-innig. '5.-

one end-origine lid is hinged to the top section Y iby hingesfl so as to permit the lid to be swung to aiiirtended plnsitionl inv eo V arrelationftortle-*top wall I I, "in no. n it series' n" vor sin porting table#t .Cowling laiih 'eneit' arernounted respe in .2s .and cloedrostiblnface of the panel 21 is flush with the edge of the wall ll. The panel 2l is locked in its closed position by .coactmgflatch elements 29, 3u mounted respectively on the outer end of the panel Z1 and on the end wall Il).

When the machine is in its folded position, its

weight is carried by the hinges IE and by the wall 8 against which the base plate 2 rests. For this reason, when the box is used as a carrying case, the rear wall 8 becomes the bottom or' vthe box and the panel 2l forms the top of the box, and, therei'ore, the panel 2l is provided with a carrying handle 3|. When this improved box is used in connection with other types of machines, it may be I'ound desirable to attach the handle to one of the other walls of the box. j Extending across the bottom of the frame is a panel 32 which is removably connected to the end walls 9, l0, by latch elements 33, 34. This panel is completely removed from the frame when the box is used as a stand or occasional table.

The box is converted Vinto a stand or table by means oil collapsible legs 35 adapted to be inserted in sockets 36 which are mounted in the corners of the frame. These sockets may be in the form of metal tubes which are secured to the end walls 9, l by bolts 3l, 38. The sockets at each end oi' the frame diverge downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to give greater stability to the supporting legs, each of which comprises a pair vof telescoping tubular sections 39, 40. The upper ends of the leg sections 39 are slotted as shown at 4l to receive the bolts 38, and the upper ends of the leg sections 49 are slotted as shown at 42 for receiving bolts 43 which pass through the sections 39. The sections 39, 49 are also frictionally held against accidental separation by knobs 44 pressed inwardly from the lower portion of the sections 39.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the two sockets adjacent the front opening I9 form ledges for supporting the legs within the opening I9 when the box is used as a carrying case. The bolts 43 are so positioned that when the sections 40 are inserted in the upper ends of the sections 39, instead oiin the lower ends therof, the legs may be collapsed so as to be adapted to t within the opening i9, in which position they are held ragainst displacement by the apron l2 and by the panel 21.

.The operation` of converting this improved structure from one form to another is believed to be obvious from the foregoing description.

Although but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention as dellned by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a combination carrying case and stand for a portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigid frame comprising top, rear, and end walls, the top Wall forming a shelf adapted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted in one position to overlie and completely conceal said shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a continuous work supporting surface, said frame having an opening between the front edges of said end walls to accommodate the knees of a person using the machine, a front wall panel hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted when closed to cover said opening and being adapted when opened to underlie said top lid in extended position, a bottom wall panel removably secured to said frameLcorner sockets Vmounted within said frame, said bottom wall panel inl its 'closed position covering the lower ends of said sockets, and collapsible supporting legs adapted to be inserted in said sockets for supporting said frame when the box is used as a stand, said legs when collapsed being adapted to fit within the box.

2. In a combination carrying case and stand for a portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigid frame comprising top, rear, and end walls, the top wall forming a shelf adapted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted in one position to overlie and completely concealsaid shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a continuous work supporting surface, cooperating latch means on said lid and frame for locking said lid in its closed position, said frame having an opening between the front edges of said end walls to accommodate the knees of a person using the machine, a front wall panel hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted when closed to cover said opening and being adapted when opened to underlie said top lid in extended position, other cooperating latch means on said front wall panel and frame for locking said front wall panel in its closed position, a bottom wall panel removably secured to said frame. corner sockets mounted within said frame, and collapsible supporting legs adapted to be inserted in said sockets for supporting said frame when the box is used as a stand, said legs when collapsed being adapted to lit within the box and to be supported on the sockets of the front corners of the frame.

3. In a combination carrying case and stand for a portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigid frame comprising top, rear, and end walls, the top wall forming a shelf adapted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so' as to be adapted iny one position to overlie and completely conceal said shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a continuous work supporting surface, said frame having an opening between the front edges of said end walls to accommodate the knees of a person using the machine, a front wall panel hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted when closed to cover said opening andbelng adapted when opened to underlie saidtop lid in extended position, collapsible supporting legs adapted when collapsed to iit within said box, and attaching means within said frame for detachably securing said legs to the box at the corners thereof, part of said attaching means forming a support for the collapsed legs within said box.4

4, In a combination carrying case and stand for a portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigidl frame comprising top,rear, and end walls, the top wall forming a shelf adapted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted in one position to overlie and completely conceal said shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a con- 13 when opened to underlie said top lid in extended position, latch means for locking said lid in its closed position, other latch means for locking said front wall panel in its closed position, collapsible supporting legs adapted when collapsed to fit Within said box, and attaching means within the corners of said frame for detachably securing said legs to said box, the attaching means within the two front corners forming supporting ledges for the collapsed legs within the box.

5. 1n a combination carrying case and stand for a portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigid frame comprising top, rear, and end walls, the top wall forming a shelf adapted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted in one position to overlie and completely conceal said shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a continuous Work supporting surface, said frame having an opening between the iront edges of said end walls to accommodate the knees of a person using the machine, a front wall panel hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted when closed to cover said opening and being adapted when opened to underlie said top lid in extended position, a bottom wall panel removably secured to said frame, corner sockets mounted within said frame, the corner sockets at the front of the frame forming ledges spaced inwardly from said front wall panel at respectively opposite ends of said opening, and collapsible supporting legs adapted to be inserted in said sockets for supporting said frame when the box is used as a stand, said legs being collapsible to t within said opening and to be supported on said ledges when the box is used as a carrying case.

6. In a combination carrying case and stand for a portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigid frame comprising top, rear, and end walls, the top wall forming a shelf adapted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted in one position to overlie and completely conceal said shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a continuous work supporting surface, a narrow apron extending across the front of said frame between said end walls, the lower edge of said apron and the forward edges of said end walls defining an opening, a front wall panel hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted when closed to conceal said opening and said apron, cooperating latch means on said front wall panel and on said frame for locking said panel in its closed position, corner sockets within said frame, two of said sockets being spaced inwardly from said front wall panel to form ledges at respectively opposite sides of said opening, and supporting legs adapted to be inserted in said sockets for supporting said frame when the box is used as a stand, said legs being collapsible so as to be adapted to t within said opening and to be supported on said ledges when the box is used as a carrying case.

7. In a combination carrying case and stand for a .portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigid frame comprising top, rear, and end walls, the top wall forming a shelf adpted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted in one position to overlie and completely conceal said shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a continuous work supporting surface, said frame having an opening between the iront edges of said end walls to accommodate the knees of a person using the machine, a front wall panel hinged atrone end to said frame lso as to be adapted when closed to cover said opening and being adapted when opened to underlie said top lid in extended position, a bottom wall panel removably secured to said frame, latch means on said frame for locking said lid, front wall panel and bottom wall panel in their closed positions, corner sockets mounted within said frame, Vtwo of said sockets at the front of said frame forming ledges spaced inwardly from said front wall panel at the opposite sides of said opening, and supporting legs adapted to be inserted in said sockets for supporting said frame when the box is used as a stand, said legs being collapsible to t within said opening for support by said ledges when the box is used as a carrying case.

8. In a combination carrying case and stand for a portable machine, a rectangular box having a rigid frame comprising top, rear, and end walls, the top wall forming a shelf adapted to support the machine in operative position, a lid hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted in one position to overlie and completely conceal said shelf and being swingable into extended position in coplanar relation with said shelf to form a continuous Work supporting surface, `said frame having an opening between the front edges or said end walls to accommodate the knees of a person using the machine, a front wall panel hinged at one end to said frame so as to be adapted when closed to cover said opening and being adapted when opened to underlie said top lid in extended position, a bottom wall panel removably secured to said frame, latch means on said frame for locking said lid, front wall panel and bottom wall panel in their closed positions, a carrying handle secured to said 'front wall panel, corner sockets mounted within said frame, two of said sockets at the front of said frame forming ledges spaced inwardly from said front wall panel at the opposite sides of said opening, and supporting legs adapted to be inserted in said sockets for supporting said frame when the box is used as a stand, said legs being collapsible to t within said opening for support by said ledges when the box is used as a carrying case.

HARRY A. TRUMFIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,565,395 Reddig Dec. 15, 1925 1,807,916 Jones June 2, 1931 2,103,091 Robert Dec. 21, 1937 2,133,127 Waterman Oct. 11, 1938 

